Every family that is visited by the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus needs to have a copy of Emily J. Parnell’s “Society of Seasonal Secretkeepers Field Guide” on hand for the day when “the mysterious, maybe awful truth” is revealed. This wonderfully designed, softcover book is a labor of love by a mother-author who has penned an empowering, encouraging, nurturing way to keep the magic in the holidays for parents and children alike.

Her Seasonal Secretkeepers gift set includes a black briefcase-esque zippered bag that holds the secret agent field guide and a keepsake token to bestow upon the child who will now be entrusted with this classified knowledge. Instead of grieving the loss of magical beings, the child comes to understand that they now have important knowledge, and they can earn the status of secret agent by swearing an oath of secrecy. Thus, the child is inducted into a society of Seasonal Secretkeepers, people “in the know,” who are trusted to guard the truth for younger children.

And Parnell takes it a step further with mission ideas which encourage children to think of ways they can bring the magic of kindness and thoughtfulness into the world.

A pinky swear bonds the child with a trusted adviser who will assist with his agent training. (The adviser is an important resource for those times the child has questions about his family’s traditions and beliefs.)

Recommended for children ages 5–13 who have learned the true nature of magical beings, the guide is also a workbook with pages where the child can record their family’s traditions and brainstorm ways to keep the magic alive in their own hearts — and in the hearts of the people they care about.

The companion website, www.s3hq.com and Facebook page have more tips and support for parents. Parnell’s gift set is sure to become as much a part of the holidays as Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”